Saving money is usually a positive move, but done wrong it can cost you more in the long run if it’s not done right. That’s why its important to think strategically when finding ways to cut costs.
When investing in a warehouse management system, its important to have a clear picture of what you’re trying to accomplish. When you have a clear vision of what you want to accomplish with your warehouse management system, it’s easier to customize a solution that works for you and your customers.
Warehouse Management Savings Tips:
The right WMS will be a solution to a problem, not just a flashy show of technology. It will help you find inefficiencies within your own system and help you improve your bottom line.
- Miscounting inventory is a thing of the past when your system helps you maintain accurate counts. Your system will track inventory from your supplier to your door, through your warehouse, and on to your customer, eliminating the need for costly counting and speeding up the entire process.
- When you’re out of stock, customers have to go elsewhere to fulfill their needs. Your WMS can send alerts when stock is low which saves money and credibility with your customers.
- Managing your workforce can be complicated. Your workforce is one of your biggest expenditures. Your warehouse management system helps you calculate your workforce needs, bringing in seasonal employees when demand is high and scaling down when demand is low.
- When you have the ability to provide your customers with a variety of products, you increase your bottom line. Managing multiple suppliers is complex. Your system helps you manage multiple accounts seamlessly. Each supplier’s information is at your fingertips and can be customized according to your negotiated relationship.
- Carrier integration saves you money when your shipments are calculated to take the most direct route possible. This speeds up the shipping process, making your customers happy and saving you money. Your system can handle multiple carriers so you can arrange the best service for any customer.
- Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is a system of sharing information with your trading partners. Information is entered and verified only one time, then it’s transmitted to provide information, like, advance shipping notices, PO number, product information, shipping information, etc. .
- User friendly system. Your warehouse management system is user friendly, which makes training your employees easier. No wasted time in classes to learn the system.
- IT support can be expensive. With your online system you use only the IT resources you need instead of employing an expensive team.
- Customer service is an important part of your business. When your customers needs aren’t met, you’re losing business. Your system can send automated email notifications when orders ship, information is needed, order confirmations, and much more. When customers call in, your customer service department has all the information they need to solve problems.
- When orders have to be returned, your system uses reverse logistics to find the most efficient way to return items.
- With supply chain tracking you see where your stock is at any point in the process and track orders sent to customers.